Locking door latch



y 1939- c. E. ANDERSON 2,159,581

LOCKING noon LATCH.

.Filed lay 23, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l lawn? Cafl 1; Aniexson y 1939- c. a. ANDERSON 2,159,581

- LOOKING noon LATCH Filed lay 2:5, 19:58 2 Sheets-She t 2 \nven'k'ow Qfl .EAndexson Patented May 23, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Carl I. Anderson. Grand Haven, Mich, assignor to Anderson-Bolling M13100" Grand Haven, Mloln, a partnership composed of Carl E. Anderson and Baltsar Bolling Application May :3. ms, Serial No. 209,499

'IClnlms.

This invention relates generally to door latches which have their greatest field, of usefulness on automobile doors, but it is not my intention that they should be restricted thereto It is directed more specifically to asafety latchmechanism and'is an improvement upon the latch shown in my copending patent application filed March 7, 1938, Serial No. 194,342.

In present use, almost universally, the latches on automobile doors are constructed of only a single latch which is adapted to engage with a double keeper arrangement on the body or door frame. In contradistinction to this practice, my device is comprised of a double latch bolt construction adapted to engage with a keeper in the door frame having but a single retaining hook thereon.

It is a particular object of my invention to provide a latch bolt construction having two latch :0 bolts therein, one or both of which may be re tracted and retained by the keeper.

A further object of my invention is to provide a latch construction having two latch bolts therein and means adjacent said latch bolt which will :5 prevent the retraction of one of the said bolts until the other of the'said latch bolts has first been retracted a predetermined distance.

Another object is to provide a latch construction having two latch bolts therein, both of which 30 may be retracted simultaneously by the operation of a handle either from within or without the door.

Other objects and purposes of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

35 Toithe accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and following descrip- 40 tion set forth in detail certain means and one mode of carrying out my invention, said means constitutingfhowever, but one of the various ways in which the principles of my invention may be employed. 45 In said annexed drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a part sectional, part elevational view of the latch construction taken substantially on the plane of line ll of Fig. 4.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary part sectional, part elevational view of the latch construction taken substantially on the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 4.

55 Fig. -3 is a fragmentary part sectional, part (Cl. 2M4) elevational view of the latch construction, taken subs antially on the plane of line II of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary underplan view, partly in section, of the latch construction showing the door and the door frame, taken substantially on 5 the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section somewhat similar to Fig. 4 but showing'the door partly closed or in the safety position.

Fig. 6 is a part sectional, part elevational view 10 taken substantially on the plane of line H of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the plate which constitutes the safety means preventing the retraction of one of the latch bolts until the other bolt has first been retracted a predetermined distance.

The door on which the latch is to be installed is indicated by the numeral I, and the adjacent door frame is indicated at 2. The door frame has installed therein a keeper 3 which has a retaining hook I at one end thereof. Either one or the other of the latch bolts may engage with the hook 4 when the door is in a closed or partly closed position. The remaining structure of the door and body may be any conventional structure such as is used in automobile bodies.

The latch structure is composed of a support made from a length of sheet metal and bent into a substantially U-form.' One side 5 of this U- formed support comprises a portion of one side of the latch construction. I

The inner latch bolt 6 has a curved surface at its outer end and is'of a substantially L-shaped configuration which provides two arms 1 and l. At the juncture of the two arms is provided a pivot pin 9 about which the latch bolt may be rotated. This pivot pin 9 extends from one side of the supporting structure to the other end through both of the latch bolts. The other latch 40 bolt I0 is longer than the latch bolt 6 and has a curved surface which is substantially a continuation of the curve on the latch bolt 6. The two latch bolts 6 and I0 are mounted adjacent each other as is more clearly shown in Fig. 4.

At the end of the arm I of the latch bolt 8 is provided a pivot pin ll about which is allowed to rotate a circular wheel I2.

Each of the two latch bolts 0 and III are slotted as at I! and H to provide a space wherein the ends of the elongated bars of metal I! and It may be pivotally mounted on the pivot pins I1 and Ila respectively which extend through each of the bolts.

The inner and upper portion of the latch bolt 66 III is curved inwardly so that it will receive the pivot pin l I which extends from the latch bolt 6. The reason for this construction is so that when the latch bolt 0 is retracted, the pin \II will move upwardly and automatically carry with it the latch bolt it. Both 01' the latch bolts s and ill will' thereby be rotated about the pin 2.

At the outer side of the door is-a handle member l8 which extends through the door casing I and is pivotally mounted therein on the shaft l9. Also on the shaft I! is pivotally mounted an L-shaped member 20, the lower arm 2| of which passes beneath the wheel l2 and is in contact therewith, andthe upper arm 22 of which is pivotally mounted on the elongated rod 22. The rod 23 extends through the supporting portion of the lock construction and is secured to the handle on the inner side of the door (not shown). The retraction of the rod 22 will cause a clockwise rotation of the member 20 as viewed in Fig. 1 and will thereby cause an upward movement of the arm I of the latch bolt 8 which will retract said latch bolt 6, and the contact of the pin II will also cause a retraction of the latch bolt ll.

Each of the metal bars I! and I6 extend through openings in the rear portion 21 of the supporting structure, which openings are large enough to allow a pivotal movement of said metal bars. These strips are retained in position by the coiled springs 25 and 26 which surround the bars i5 and I6, respectively. These springs cause both of the latch bolts 6 and II to return to their normal extended position upon release of the handle it, and maintain them in that position. In the construction as thus far described it will be seen'that if the door is closed from the outside and slammed rather than closed by tuming the handle I 2, the latch bolt 8 will first contact the hook I on the keeper 2 and will thereby be retracted as well as the latch bolt II. If the door does not close tightly, but has been cloud sufflciently to allow the first latch bolt to pass the hook on the keeper, the door will not be allowed to be reopened because the keeper will have caught the latch bolt 0 and retain the door in a partly closed position as shown in Fig. 5.

Even though the door is completely closed, there is always the possibility that the rocking or swaying motion of the car, together with any severe jolts which the car may receive, may cause the latch bolt II to be retracted a suincient amount so that the door will at least be partially opened. To prevent this I have invented a safety means which will render it impossible for the latch bolt III to be retracted until the latch bolt 6 has first been retracted a predetermined distance.

The particular portion of the construction which embodies this safety feature is shown in Fig. 7. This feature includes a plate 21 which has one end thereof upturned as at 20, having slots 28 and 30 therein in which may be inserted the ends of the bars II and I. At the forward end of the plate 21 and on one side thereof is a dog II which extends upwardly therefrom, and at the opposite side of the: plate is positioned a cam 22. The plate is mounted for pivotal movement adjacent and below the bars I! and I i so that the bottom of the upturned end thereof will rest for pivotal movement on the shoulder 33 which is struck from the portion 24 of the supporting structure.

The plate 21 is so mounted that the dog 2| will extend upwardly within the slot ii on the bolt Ill. It will be obvious that when the plate 21 is in this position the bolt II) can only be retracted until the edge of the slot l4 contacts the dog II, at which point it will be stopped and will be unable to move farther. The cam 32. at the opposite side of the plate 21, will be adjacent a rotatable member ll on the pin l1 and within the slot ll of the bolt 6. From this construction it will be seen that when the-bolt I is retracted, the contact of the rotatable member 24 .with the cam 32 will force the plate 21 downwardly about its pivotal point and, accordingly, will also force the dog I! downwardly so that it will be outside of the path of movement of the bolt ll. It will therefore be seen that until the bolt 6 has been retracted an amount sumcient to remove the dog .2! from the path of movement of the bolt It, said bolt It will be unable to be retracted an appreciable distance. The same result will be acquired whether the door is being slammed'or whether the bolts are being retracted byactuation of the handle it, or of the handle on the inside of the door.

It is to be noted that the springs 25 and 26 serve not only to force the bolts outwardly to a normal position, but also to retain the plate 21 in place since one end of each of said springs will be in contact with the upwardly turned end portion 28 thereof.

Fig. 3 shows more clearly the position of the various movable parts when the latch bolts are in a retracted position. In this position the springs 25 and 26 have been compressed, the latch bolt 6 has forced the plate downwardly so that the dog 3| is out of the way to allow the latch bolt Hi to also be retracted.

It will be noted, incidentally, that the rod 23 is provided with a shoulder 25 to prevent the member 20 from retracting the latch bolt too great a distance.

From the foregoing description it will thereby be seen that I have constructed a novel latch bolt having safety means thereon which will prevent the door from being inadvertently opened by any jarring or sliding motion which may take place as between the latch bolt and the keeper.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be used instead of the one here explained, change being made as regards the structure herein explained, provided however, that the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a latch structure, a support, two bolts mounted for movement on said support each having means adapted to engage with a common keeper, individual spring means acting on each of said bolts normally moving them to an outer keeper engaging position, a plate mounted to pivot about one end thereof and means thereon to prevent the retraction of one of said bolts until the other of said bolts has been retracted a predetermined distance.

2. A latch structure comprising a support, two bolts mounted for sliding movement on said support each having means adapted to engage with a common keeper, individual spring means acting on each of said bolts normally moving them to an outer keeper engaging position, a plate mounted for pivotal movement adjacent said bolts, one end of said plate being turned upwardly, slots in said upwardly turned end to receive said bolts, said spring means adapted to retain said plate in position, a dog on one side of said plate to prevent retraction of one of the bolts, and a cam on the other side oi said plate adjacent the other of said bolts, whereby retraction of said last named bolt will move said plate removing said dog from the path of movement of one of said bolts to allow the same to thereby be retracted.

3. In a latch structure provided with two latch bolts adapted to engage a common keeper, a safety constructioncomprislng, means normally interposed in the retraction path of one of said bolts to prevent the retraction thereof, and means interposed in the retraction path of the other of said bolts and cooperatively associated with said first named means whereby the removal of the last named means from the path of the last named bolt will remove the first named means from the path of the first named bolt and allow the retraction thereof.

4. The combination with a swinging door of a latch therefor comprising two latch bolts and means to prevent the retraction of one of said "bolts until the other bolt has been retracted a predetermined distance including a plate located adjacent said latch bolts, said plate on one side thereof and adjacent one of said bolts provided with a dog, and on the other side thereof and adjacent the other of said bolts provided with a cam whereby the retraction of said last named bolt will remove the dog from the path of movement of said first named bolt and allow same to be retracted.

5. In a latch structure, a support, two bolts mounted for movement on said support each having means' to engage with a common keeper, a plate mounted for pivotal movement adjacent said bolts, a dog on one side of said plate adjacent one of said bolts, and a cam on the other side of said plate adjacent the other of said bolts, whereby retraction of one bolt is prevented until the other bolt has been retracted a predetermined distance.

6. In a latch structure having two latch bolts pivotally mounted on a support and adapted to engage with a keeper, safety means to prevent the retraction of one of said bolts until the other of said bolts has first been retracted a predetermined distance including a plate pivotally mounted adjacent said bolts having a dog on one side thereof adjacent one bolt and a cam on the other side thereof adjacent the other bolt.

7. In a latch structure provided with two latching bolts adapted to engage a common keeper, a safety construction including a plate mounted for pivotal movement about one end thereof in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which it is positioned, and cam and dog means thereon to prevent the retraction of one of said bolts until the other bolt has been retracted a predetermined distance.

CARL E. ANDERSON. 

